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PCLinuxOS MiniME is a freely distributed and open source Linux-based operating system derived from the well known Mandriva Linux distribution and designed around the eye-candy and modern KDE desktop environment.

When compared with the main edition, this flavor comes with fewer pre-installed applications and a minimal graphical environment, but still based on the KDE Plasma Workspaces and Application project.

Availability and startup options

Another strong feature of this PCLinuxOS edition is that it’s distributed as Live CD ISO images, allowing users to write them to blank CD discs instead of expensive DVD discs. Both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures are supported at this time.

From the boot prompt, users can run the live environment with default settings, without the boot splash (verbose mode), in safe graphics mode, in failsafe mode, as well as to copy the live medium in RAM and run the OS from there, ejecting the CD.

In addition, it is also possible to run a memory diagnostic test, drop to a shell prompt, check the CD for errors, as well as to directly install the operating system, without testing it (not recommended).

Key features

Before you can actually use the graphical session, you will need to select a keyboard layout. The desktop features a single taskbar located at the bottom edge of the screen, allowing users to launch apps, access the main menu, or interact with running programs and the system tray area.

Highlights include kernel 3.18.1, ffmpeg 2.5.1, mesa 10.4.0, SysVinit (no systemd) and all popular applications such as Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice and VLC have been updated to their latest versions.